Gerald Braden (aka/ Gerald William Braden, Gerald Wilhelm Braden, Gary Braden) is an Austrian-American composer/musician that was born April 2, 1954. Gerald's family came to America from Vienna, Austria after World War II, and they eventually settled in Indianapolis, Indiana for a short time, before eventually moving to Mentor, Ohio. Gerald's musical gifts were recognized at a young age by his elementary school teachers, and he began his music studies on the string bass at the age of 8, studying with the principal bassist of the Cleveland Orchestra. When Gerald was 13, he became interested in playing the electric bass, and performing with bands that were playing blues and rock music. Gerald left his classical music studies, and pursued his new desire to perform music with modern "electric" bands. Gerald began "sneaking" into local popular nightclubs, and was introduced to many blues and jazz greats including Roland Kirk, Abraham Laboriel, Robert Lockwood Jr, Herbie Hancock, as well as many others. Gerald sat in with Robert Lockwood Jr at a local bar one night, and Robert became a new mentor to him, having Gerald play with him at many of his local engagements. Robert Lockwood Jr taught Gerald about "blues and rock" music, and how to play his bass guitar tastefully in these genres. By the time Gerald was 15, he was performing 2-3 nights a week with miscellaneous bands, and earning an income that allowed him to purchase new musical equipment, as well as continue his studies with other music teachers. When Gerald reached the age of 16 (1970), he decided to leave home, at the discontent of his parents for leaving school at the end of the 10th grade. Gerald traveled the US and Canada performing music with various touring artists for a year, though eventually returned to Ohio, and resumed his studies. When he returned to high school at the age of 17 (1971), Gerald passed tests that allowed him to skip the 11th grade, and go directly to his senior year studies. During his senior year (1971), Gerald joined a local Ohio band called "Bluestone Union," and performed with them as a bassist, keyboardist, and composer for the next 4 years. Gerald left Bluestone Union in 1974, to pursue other musical interests, and to also play electric guitar instead of bass. As a composer, Gerald felt that it was important to master instruments such as the guitar and keyboards to further his composing. At the age of 21 (1975), Gerald returned to his musical studies at the Willoughby School of Fine Arts, studying guitar, and Lakeland College, studying piano and music theory, and excelling at both schools. A few years later, he continued his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying guitar, piano, music theory, and voice, and eventually earned his BA in music. During these years he was studying in college, Gerald had also been performing and touring with other artists, including Sonny Geraci and Climax, as well as other well known recording artists
Through the years, Gerald was also earned his income as a studio musician and composer/arranger for radio and television commercials. Arranging and scoring smaller studio orchestras for these commercials brought Gerald back to his first love, which was Classical Music. After many years of touring and performing with many local and national artists, Gerald took a position as a Music Director and Keyboardist-Guitarist at Shephards Resort in Clearwater, Florida. Gerald remained at Shephards for 10 years performing live. This was the first performing job Gerald ever had, where he didn't have to constantly look for live performance work, and move his equipment each day or night for every performance. After one year at Shephards, Gerald decided to go back to college to further his musical education with music theory, composition, orchestral scoring, and piano. After years of performing and composing pop and rock music, Gerald decided that he wanted to dedicate his talent to composing Classical Orchestral and Chamber Music. Gerald studied piano and theory briefly at St Petersburg College, and then moved on to study Orchestral Composition and Scoring with world renowned composer and pianist Robert Helps at the University of Southern Florida.
Sadly, after less than one year of study with his mentor, Robert Helps passed away in 2001. From this time until 2007, Gerald divided his time between performing at Shephards, and composing his Orchestral and Chamber music. His Chamber Music works are steadily gaining popularity with Chamber Music groups, and Pianists, that are searching for new music to perform live. Gerald has also been working on composing larger Orchestral works, with the future hope of hearing these works performed live by major orchestras.
References
Gerald Wilhelm Braden - Education and Live Performance
Studied Bass - Music Theory with Principal Bassist / Cleveland Orchestra
Studied Guitar - Music Theory / Willoughby School of Fine Arts
Studied Piano - Music Theory - Composition / Lakeland Community College
Studied Guitar - Piano - Voice - Music Theory - Composition / Cleveland Institute of Music
Studied Piano - Music Theory - Composition / St Petersburg College
Studied Music Theory - Composition / University Of Southern Florida
Studied Orchestral Composition and Scoring with Robert Helps / Robert Helps - Pianist and Composer
Live performances of Gerald Braden's Chamber Music / Florida Orchestra
Played Bass Guitar with Robert Lockwood Jr / Robert Lockwood Jr
Played Guitar with Sonny Geraci and Climax / Climax Band
Gerald Wilhelm Braden - Various Classical Compositions - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHS2BRUkknhHM6DMwKLQjQ
Overture for America (Orchestra) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhrc6Zp6EFc
Winter Poem (Orchestra and Harp) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbavwlfLhs4
Spring Prelude (Orchestra and Piano) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLYzUfUE370
Fantasy in F Major (String Quintet) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wygd4Qn0DPw
Waltz in Db Major (für Mutter Helga - Piano) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFj2cSERw0
Quintet in C Minor (Funeral für Mozart) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKKvkuISGu4
Vatertraum ( Father's Dream - Piano) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRyIWBqqHfA
Invention in D Major (Bassoon and Clarinet or Cello and Viola)
Summer Prelude (Orchestra)
Autumn Poem (Orchestra)
Spring Prelude (Piano)
Fantasy in F Major (Piano)
Autumn Nocturne (Piano)
Scherzo in G Major (Piano)
Rondo in C Major (Piano)
Rondo in F Major (Piano)
Sonata No 1 in A Major (Piano)
Sonata No 2 in Eb Major (Piano)
Sonata No 3 in E Major (Piano)
Waltz in D Minor "Katherines Lament" (für Schwester Kathy - Piano)
Waltz in D Major "Grand Waltz" (für Schwester Karen - Piano)
Waltz in Ab Major (für Tante Ingrid - Piano)
Prelude in F# Minor (Piano)